Labeling machine



May 27, I1924. 1,495,408

E.'F. FOSTER LABELING MACHINE Fired Feb. g8, 1922 s sheets-sheet 2Mobs/W May 27, 1924. 1,495,408

E. F. FOSTER LABELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 5 sheets-sheet 3 May 2.7,1924. 1,495,408

E. F. FOSTER LABELINQ MACHINE Filed Feb.v 23, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May27, 19.24. i i,49"s,4fos.

- E. F. FOSTER LABELING MAcIrgE Filed Feb. 28, 1922 ls sheets-smet 5Patented May Z7, 1924.-.

N l if I LABELING MACHINE.

Application filed February 28, 1922. Serial N'o. 539,943.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. Fos'rnR, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofilisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLabeling Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

My inventionV relates to the preparation of package goods for lnarket bythe application of stamps or seals or specially prepared pieces ofpa-per, either for the purpose of securely fastening the package or theapplication of a characteristic and identifying design. The object of myinvention is to provide an effective, accurate and rapidly operatingmachine for the purpose described; and, to that end I provide'means fortaking separate articles to be labeled, feeding them to the machine andcarrying them to a predetermined point, Vand I also include a receptacleor magazine for the labels, and pneumatic means for taking themtherefrom and also carrying them to said predetermined point at whichthey are to be afiixed to the article to be labeled; I further providemeans by which the labels are moistened or gummed and also by which themoistening or gumming appara-tus is thrown out of action in case offailure to properly take and carry the label.

The principles of my invention are illustrated in the drawings in whichFig. 1 shows a side elevation of my machine', Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection on the dotted line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a' top plan view ofthe feed end of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of a part of thelabeling end of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5` of Fig. 4Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 of Fig. Fig. 7 is a sectionon the line 7-7 of Fig. 1. Fig. S is an enlarged detail of a labelpressing device. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the labeling wheel.' Fig.1() is an enlarged spoke on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9 partly in sectiontogether with the labeling head. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of thelabeling head. i Figs. 12 and 13 are deu tails of the label holder; Fig.14 is a bushing for the labeling wheel'. Fig. 15 is a stationary shaftuponwhich said bushing and its wheel revolve. Fig. 16 is a section onthe line 16-16 of Fig. 15. Figure 17 is an enlarged diagrammatic view ofthe wiring.

Further describing my invention with reference to the drawings in whichlike characters of reference denote like parts throughout: 1 representsthe horizontal fra-ming, 2 a table and 3 the legs which carry theoperative parts of my machine. 4 is a main shaft which receives thedriving power and 5 is an endless chain or platform mounted on thesprocket vwheels 6 and 7.

' Said chain or platform reaches substantially from end to end of thetable and isidriven by sprocket chain 8 which connects the correspondingsprocket wheels 9 and 9.y Said chain 5 is enclosed between two inwardlyprojecting members 10 preferably of angle iron, theupper and horizontalianges of which form the lower portion of a chute through which thearticles to be labeled pass. The side rails or walls 11 of said chuteeX- tend upwardly from the table 2 and gener-y ally define the pathwhich the articles tobe labeled follow. A labeling wheel 12 (see alsoFig. 9) is mounted upon the uprights 13 which are carried b v the table2. It revolves upon a stationary hollow' shaft 15 which passes betweenand is securely clamped to the uprights 13. The articles to be labeled,such as soap and the like, are supplied to the labeling device and thedevices directly aecessory thereto by the endless chain or carrier 5.This may be done manually, but I prefer to provide mechanical means asis shown in Fig. 3 consisting ofa reciprocating carrier 16 held i-nalignment by guides 17 and operated by means of a lever pivotedat 18 andhaving the short arm 19 and long arm 20. The said lon-g arm is connectedby link 21 to the depending offset 22 on the underside o-f thereciprocating carrier 16. The short arm' 19 of said lever has an offsetroller 23 operating within the groove 24 ofthe caniv 25 mounted on shaft26 which is geared to the nia-in shaft 4.

The endless carrier 5 is divided into se`ctions of equal length4 byprojections 30 against which, as they move forward, the article to belabeled is received, and which tix the spacing thereof in the directionof their movement. The movement of the endless 'clrain and of thereciprocating head -16 should be so timed that they will coincide andthat each movement of the reciprocating head will deposit one of thearticles into a corresponding section by which it is car ried forward tothe labeling device.

On each side of the endless chain are the retaining rails 11 adapted tohold the articles to be labeled in the chute and within the control ofthe endless chain or apron. lin order that such articles may be centeredlaterally l provide a plurality of plungers having the heads 33projecting' slightly into the path provided between the retainingr rails11. Said plungers are controlled by springs 34 which tend to bring theheads slightly within the line of the inside faces of the retaining'rails. As the articles to be labeled pass between them they will becentered laterally and will be in proper position to receive the labelwhen advanced to the point at which it is presented when impelled by theprojections 30.

At the rear end of the apparatus, upon the table 2 is placed a support35. Extendingi upwardly therefrom is a post 36 upon which., at 37, ispivoted a tubular label holder 38. Said label holder has a slotextending the greater portion of its length7 for the purpose ofadjusting labels 40 therein as desired. The discharge end of the labelholder is shown in Figs. 12 and 13; it is slightly reduced by the flange41 and further reduced by the lateral extensions 42, the function ofwhich will be hereinafter explained. The upper portion of said lower endof the tube is provided with a swinging' weight 43 pivoted at 44 whichis adapted to hold and stabilize the labels in the holder and in theirrelation to each other when pressed downwardly by the follower 45actuated by spring- 46 and held in place by the cap 47 secured on theend of the label holding tube by a bayonet joint or other suitablemeans. The downward position of the label holder, as indicated by thedotted lines in Fig'. 4, is determined by the springl- 50 as limited bythe stop 51 when received upon the table 35.

The labeling' wheel 12 mounted on support 13 consists of a rim 55 and ahub 5G connected by hollow arms 57 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The saidarms have labeling` heads 53 at their outer extremities, a plan view ofwhich is shown in Fig'. 11. lt will be seen that the axial bore 59 ofthe spoke or arm 57 connects with said head which has a transverseopening 60.

A bushing; 61, shown in Fig. 14, has peripheral openings 62 and isinserted in the hub opening' of the labeling wheel in such a positionthat the said openings will reg;- ister with the corresponding' axialopening` of the arms or spokes 57. The labeling wheel thus constructedis mounted upon the shaft 15 shown in Fig. 15 which spans the spacebetween the supports 13, and which is rigidly secured thereto. The sameshould be so mounted with reference to the label holder that thelabeling' heads 53 will make a slight Contact with the lower end of thelabeling` tube when in the relative positions shown in Fig. 4. rThelabel tube is provided with a projecting rod 65, and the rim of negatesthe labelingv wheel should have pins or projections 66 so disposed withreference to each other that when the labeling head is rotated to theright and upwardly, as shown in the arrow in Fig. 4, the pins 66 willenthe projecting rod 65 when in the normal position shown by the dottedlines. The rotation of the labeling head will raise the label tube tothe position shown, at which a label will be drawn from the labelingtube and caused to adhere to the labeling head as hereinafter explained.

Referring to Fig'. 7 the apparatus last described is shown assembled, asprocket wheel 70 being mounted on the extended bushing 61 `between thelabeling wheel 12 and the support 13.

An exhaust tank is connected with suitable mechanism7 not shown, bywhich the air may be exhausted therefrom and held at a predeterminedpressure as desired.

A circular head 76 having' the fingers 77 is secured upon the end of`the bushing' G1 which projects beyond the support 13. The exhaust tank75 is connected by means of a non-collapsible tubing 78 with the largeend of the hollow shaft 15 and also by .means of the tubing` 80 with theother or small end of the non-rotatable shaft 15. A normally spring'closed valve 79 is mounted on the bracket SO and is adapted to be openedby pressure on the under side of the lever or handle 81. And this willtake place each time that it is engaged by the fingers 77, that is, airsuction will be produced in the stationary shaft three times with eachrevolution of the labeling wheel. and the several parts should be soarranged with reference to each other that this suction will be producedat a predetermined time, namely,v

when each labeling` head comes in proper contact with the lower end ofthe label tube. As lthe lower end of the label tube or container isslightly contracted by means of the flange 41 and the lateralcontractions il-2, and as the labeling' head is provided with acorrespondingly placed, elongated suction opening' G0. as the two arebrought into contact as described with reference to Fir. 4. the externallabel in the label tube will be .aused to buckle and to be withdrawnwithout disturbing' any other label contained in the tube.

escribing the air flow by which this effect is produced and the furtheraction of the apparatus by which the label thus taken is held upon thelabeling' head during its further revolutionv to the point underneath atwhich the label is applied: Fig'. 16 is an enlarged drawing in sectionof stationary shaft 15 on the line 16-16, and 85 is a longitudinal boreextending axially through the largerv end of the shaft 15 from itsconnection vwith the tubing' 7 8 to the radial connection 86 with thesho-rt peripheral groove 87 which is adapted to register' with theopenings 62 in sleeve 61 and be connected to the hollow arm of thelabeling wheel. Anot-her peripheral groove in the said stationary shaftextends from the point 88 to the. point 89 and is adapted to connectwith the oiiiset 90 which connects with the bore 91 in the small end ofthe stationary shaft 15. It will be observed that as the labeling wheelshown in Fig. 9 turns in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 16,upon the shaft 15 the groove 87 will first register fully with theopening 62 in the bushing. The valve 79 will -be opened, giving a quickand full suction through the opening 62 and removing the label intoengagement with the corresponding labeling head. As the actuating fingerreleases the valve, continued rotation of the labeling wheel will causethe same opening in the bushing to connect with the longer peripheralgroove extending from 88 to 89 from which air is exhausted throughoffset 90. The label is thus held continuously in place until thelabeling head turns to the lowest part of rotation a-t which point thelabel is placed in contact with the article to be labeled. At the point89 at which the groove ends, the air suction is cut oil and t-he airequilibrium restored through an externally opening notch or groove 92.The article to be labeled is then continuously impelled toward the rearend of the machine and is carried under the cross head 93, havingrollers 94 and normally held in a. position adapted to exert pressure onthe said article by mea-ns of a spring 95 passing through bracket 96. Asthe article to be labeled is carried under the said wheels the pressureof the spring is exerted through the T-head carrier, thus primarilyfixing the label to the package which is then discharged from the rearend of the machine at 97.

The labels used in this machine may be either gummed, in which casethelabels are moistened midway their point of being taken on by thelabeling head and being discharged therefrom, or they may be providedwith muscilage by a device, in cach case practically the same as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. A trough 100 adapted to hold the water or theadhesive, is carried on the support 101 which is provided with awallower 102 driven by sprocket chain 103; and wheel 104i4 is axeled ina slotted bearing 105 between supports 106 and is adapted normally tocontact with wallower 102 and with the projecting heads 58 as theyrevolve.

Means are provided which become effective when one of the labeling headsfails to take up a seal. In order to secure these results a pair ofelectrical contacts 109 and 110 are spaced Jfrom each other and areadapted to bear upon each of the labeling heads at a predetermined pointin the revolution of the labeling wheel. As long as a label covers theface of the labeling head passing beneath these contacts, no electriccircuit will be `formed between these contacts. However if the headpasses the contacts without the label thereon, the circuit will beclosed through these contacts. This circuit includes the solenoid 112and, if desired, the electric bell 111 arranged in parallel therewith.

Upon energization of the electromagnet, the armature 113 thereof will beraised and by raising the wheels 105 and 106 will prevent contact withand moistening or gumming of the label heads. The armature 113 rocksabout its pivot point and its free end engages within a notch 115 formedin a second armature lever 116; thus the armature 113 will be held inelevated relation until released by the armature 116. However, uponfurther rotation of the labeling wheel a pair of contacts 117 will beengaged by the uncovered labeling head and consequently energization ofthe electro-magnet will occur at this time. This electro-magnet retractsthis aramture 116 and thus allows the armature 113 to drop back into itsinitial position thus repositioning the wheels 105 and 106.

In Figs. 1 and 2 on supports 13 I mount a second head which is auxiliaryto the labeling head if desired. It is not intended to carry labels asis the other head already described but provides a means b-y which thearticles to be labeled may be moistened at a proper place so that whenthey are carried to the other head gunnned labels may be applied andcaused to adhere without moistening when carried by the primary labelinghead as described; or, i'f further desired, the two heads may bearranged to co-act or work simultaneously.

In order to eliminate, as far as possible, any manual manipulation ofarticles to be labeled and to make the apparatus automatic to the extentof receiving and properly placing the wrapped articles in position to beacted upon by the mechanism heretofore described I provide a devicewhich is shown in Fig. 6 the same beinga cross section on the line 6--6of Fig. 3. At aI point in the rear of the reciprocating carrier 16adapted to receive articles from the wrapping machine is a roller 120carrying'an endless belt 121. Outside that portion of thel said beltwhere articles thereon will normally be stopped by the rail 11a, Iprovide a 'head 122 having aI pusher rod 123. Said pusher rod is pivotedat 124 to the long arm 125 of a lever pivoted at 126 and having theshort arm 127 .provided with a roller 128. And wheel 129 having' the cam130 is keyed on shaft 26. The roller 128 rides on the outer face of thewheel 129 and its cam 130; and the parts are so related and timed thatwhen the reciprocating carrier 16 is withdrawn by the arm 20 the head122 will be moved transversely to p-ush the article to be labeled withinthe reach of the said carrier.

l. ln a labeling.machine; a label holder, a wheel having a hub andhollow labeling spokes adapted to co-actwith saidilabel holder, tubularnon-revoluble axle extending through Vthe hub of said wheel having aplurality ot peripheral ports adapted successively to he connected withsaid hollow spokes, means for causing suction from one end of said axlethrough one port and means independent of the first named means forcausing` suction trom the other end ot said axle through another port.

2. ln a labeling machine; a label holder, a wheel having a hub andhollow labeling 'spokes adapted to co-act with said label holder, atubular non-revoluble axle extending through the hub oitl said wheelhaving a plurality ot peripheral ports adapted successively to beconnected with said hollow spokes, means tor causing limited initialsuction through one port ot said axle, and means for causing continuingsuction through another port ot said axle.

In a labeling machine; a label holder, a wheel having a hub and hollowlabeling spokes adapted to co-act with said label holder, a tubularnon-revoluble axle extending through the hub of said wheel having aplurality o't peripheral ports adapted successivelyv to be connectedwith said hollow spokes, one ot' said ports having` a peripheral groove,and means for creating a suction in said tubular axle.

t. ln a labeling machine; a label holder, a wheel having a hub andhollow labeling spokes adapted to eo-act with said label holder, atubiiilar non-revolublc axle extending through the hub of said wheelhaving a plurality oit peripheral. ports adapted successively to beconnected with said hollow spokes, said ports being separately providedwith peripheral grooves, and means tor creating a suction in saidtubular axle.

5. ln a labeling machine; a frame, a nonrotating axle having a pluralityof nonconnected suction ports mounted on the tramc, a wheel having anapertured bushing in thc hub tliereo't rotatably on said axle, a hollowspoke normally connected with the aperture in said bushing` and adaptedsuccessively to be connected with the ports in said axle, a label tubeoperatively positioned relatively to the outer end ot said spoke whenrthe inner end thereot` is in register with the first ot said exhaustports, and means for creating a suction in said suction ports.

6. ln a labeling machine: a trame, a nonrotating axle having a pluralityof nonnaeaeoe connected suction ports mounted on the frame, a wheelrotatable on said axle and having a hollow spoke adapted successively toregister with the ports in said axle, a relief openingbeyond the secondof said ports, a label tube operatively positioned relatively to theouter end ot said spoke when the inner end thereof is inregister withthe first oi'l said exhaust ports, .fid means for creating a suction insaid suction ports.

7. In a labeling machine; a label holder, a tubular axle having aplurality of ports in the same transverse plane, and having independentpassages leading trom said ports through the body ot said axle to thetwo ends thereof, a labeling wheel having a hub and a plurality othollow labeling spokes mount,- ed on said axle so that the spokes areadapted successively to register with the ports on the axle, tubularconnections 'from the ends of said axle to a vacuum producing device, avalve in one of said tubular connections, and means operated by therotation ot said wheel to open the valve whenever the inner end ot alabeling spoke is in full register with a port of the axle, and theouter end of said spoke is in co-'acting relation with the label holder.

8. In a labeling machine; a label holder. a tubular axle having aplurality of ports in the same transverse plane, and having independentpassages leading trom said ports through the body of said axle to thetwo ends thereof, a labeling wheel having` a hub and a plurality othollow labeling spokes mounted on said axle so that the spokes areadapted successively to register with the ports on the axle, tubularconnections from the ends ot said axle to a vacuum producing device, avalve in one ot said tubular connections provided with a trip lever,lingers on the hub ot the labeling wheel corresponding in number to thelabeling heads adapted to open said valve whenever the inner end ot alabeling` spoke is in tull register with a portot the axle, and theouter end or" said spoke is in co-acting relation with the label holder.

9. In a labeling` machine; a labeling wheel including a hub, hollowspokes radially attached thereto, labeling` heads at the outer ends otsaid spokes. and bushings in said hub having pcrtorations adapted toregister with said hollow spokes, a stationary axle upon which said hubis received, said axle having an axial bore extended to and connectedinto the plane ot rotation ot said spokes, means for exhausting the airtroni said spokes, a label holder adapted to coact with said labelingheads at each rotation thereof, and a moistening device adapted to beengaged by said labeling heads at each rotation thereof.

10. ln a labeling machine. the combination @t a revoluble head, labelmoistening means adapted to Contact with said head under normalconditions`r and electro magnetic means for retracting said labelmoisteningmeans when a label is not carried by said head.

11. In a labeling machine; a tubular label holder having alongitudinally cut-away portion at its lower end, and a block pivoted atthe cut-away part and adapted to operate therethrough on the labels atsaid lower end of the holder and to contact with said labels throughoutits extent.

12. In a labeling machine; a tubular label holder having a longitudinalslot extending substantially throughout its: length and having acut-away portion at its lower' end, a plurality of lateral flanges toform a contracted discharge opening, a block pivoted at the cut-awayipart and adapted to operate in said cut-away portion; a follower blockin the holder, a cap therefor, means for securing said cap to theholder, and elastic means interposed between said cap and said followerblock.

13. In a labeling machine; the combination of a label tube havingl-ateral flanges to form a narrowed, elongated discharge aperture, and alabeling head adapted to coact with said labeling tube having a narrow,elongated suction opening correspond-l ing to the discharge opening insaid label tube.

14. In a labeling machine; a labeling wheel having a plurality oflabeling heads, a label tube pivotally mounted in operative relation tosaid labeling wheel and normally below the point of label discharge,means on the labeling wheel adapted to engage corresponding means on thelabel tube and carry said tube to the point of label extraction, andmeans for releasing said label tube when said point is passed.

15. In a labeling machine; a labeling wheel having a plurality oflabeling heads, a label tube pivotally mounted in operative relation tosaid labeling wheel and normally below the point of label discharge,means on the labeling wheel adapted to engage corresponding means on thelabel tube and carry said tube to the point ot label extraction, andmeans for restoring said tube to its normal position when said point ispassed.

16. In a labeling machine having a runway for articles to be labeled;the combination therewith of a plurality of heads having rounded facesprojecting into the runway on each side thereof. elastic means fornormally maintaining them in said' projecting position, and meanslocated centrally with respect to said runway for placing la-l bels uponsaid articles.

17. In a labeling` machine; a table; a labeling wheel thereon, a runwayon said table, a carrier in said runway adapted to carry articles to belabeled to said labeling wheel, and means on opposite sides of saidrunway adapted to laterally position such articles on the said carrier.

18. In a labeling machine; a table, a labeling wheel thereon, a runwayon said table, a carrier in said runway adapted to carry articles to belabeled to said labeling head, a reciprocating head on'the table toplace said articles on said carrier, a` mechanism having a headoperating at right angles to the path of said reciprocating head andmeans for giving alternately advanced action to said heads.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atMilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

EDWARD r. FOSTER.

